The Midnight Bloodline

Sesshomaru came to a stop at the edge of the clearing as Kagome flung the insult and would have stepped in had the air not stopped. Midnight kitsunes were known to be rather touchy about their families; it was why they made such excellent mates. They were also known to be the most powerful type of kitsune, they were widely known for the ability to manipulate everything around them, even the very air, or another’s free will. Luckily they were a rather reclusive race that had no aspirations of domination, but it seemed as if the wench was going to find all that out the hard way. Sesshomaru settled against a tree to watch, this was Anisuke’s fight, he would only step in if he had to, he did not want the little one to think that Sesshomaru thought he was incompetent.
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Anisuke felt the rage bubble; no one insulted him in that way, no one. He had already figured out that there was no way that the Potters could have been his parents, so that meant that his parents could still be out there and for her to say something like that was a very low blow. Perhaps it was time for her to learn her place. He knew that Sesshomaru was at the tree line, but also that he was going to let him handle this on his own, and he was grateful.
Inuyasha knew that this would not end well, Kagome needed to learn to keep her mouth shut. There were just some things that you should never say, especially to a yokai. He could also smell his brother waiting in the forest, which meant that this fox was with his brother and that he thought that the fox could handle them all on his own, which was worrying.
Songo knew what kind of demon the young man was, and inwardly cursed Kagome’s loud mouth. Even as a kit, this Anisuke could probably take at least a couple of them out before they could even move without his spiritual powers, with them he could turn them all against each other and let them rip each other limb from limb without him even having to move.
Miroku was still thinking the same things he had been thinking since he laid eyes on the boy, which shouldn’t be repeated due to very explicit images. He hadn’t even noticed that the atmosphere had changed.
Shippo was torn. Kagome was the closest that he had to a mother, but she was getting more and more distant with him, he now spent more time with Inuyasha then he did with her. Anisuke was also a kitsune like him, a different kind, but still a kitsune and Father had always told him that he should never start a fight with another kitsune, especially not a black one, though he had never gotten the chance to tell him why.
Kagome was starting to regret what she had said, not because she thought that she was wrong, but because she had the feeling that she had just poked a sleeping dragon. She almost shrieked when the air started moving again only to whip at her hard enough to knock her on her butt. When she looked up, she locked eyes with glowing emerald eyes that seemed to stare into her soul.
“Wench, you have insulted this Anisuke in an unforgivable manner. You are a rude, unattractive, and weak-minded human woman with little to no intelligence. I am well within my rights to take your life as payment for such and insult, but I would certainly be getting the raw end of such a deal, as I doubt your life has much value.” Kagome’s face flushed, but Anisuke continued without pause. “You have stated that it is your miko powers that make you, a human, my better, so perhaps we should see if those powers of yours are worth what you seem to think that they are, hmmm?”
There was no warning, one second she was looking at him from the ground and the next she found herself being held just high enough by Anisuke that her feet did not touch the ground and none of the others moved to help her. “What the hells the matter with all of you?! Help me!”
Anisuke chuckled. “They can’t, this is between you and me. I do not wish to have them interfere so I have removed their ability to act, though why they would want to help someone like you is beyond my understanding, perhaps you have some useful ability that has yet to show itself. Now you are a miko, so it should be no trouble for you to channel enough holy power to force me to release you, if you can manage something so very simple then I will willingly admit that you are at the very least powerful enough to rank above the average human, despite your unsightly dress.”
Kagome’s eyes narrowed as she channeled all of her power though her hands which were wrapped around his arm; hopefully it would be enough to fry the little snot. She felt real dread when all he did was raise his eyebrows. “Surely that was not all you had, I barely felt a tingle, how disappointing.”
He tossed her to the ground several feet away. “Maybe now you will understand that simply being a miko is not enough to make you of higher station then anyone else. You are still fundamentally human after all.” Anisuke turned and walked quickly toward where he knew Sesshomaru was waiting, he had to get out of here before he did something that he might later regret. He didn’t even understand why he had done that, he was just so angry.
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It was several minutes after Anisuke left before anyone in the gang could move, and only seconds after that that the sound of a set of smacks rang through the clearing. Both Miroku and Kagome were nursing red cheeks while Songo stood with her hands on her hips in front of them , Inuyasha stood to the side with his arms crossed and Shippo and Kirara sat back to watch the show.
Kagome was more then a little confused. “What the heck was that for?!” Miroku didn’t even have to ask, he had been staring at the cute fox’s behind until it had disappeared in the forest.
Songo had never been so angry with Kagome before. “Do you have any idea what kind of fox that was?” Kagome shook her head quickly, afraid to talk and make Songo even madder. “That was a Midnight Kitsune.”
At the confused looks they were all giving her she knew that she was going to have to explain, sigh. “Midnight Kitsunes are the most powerful type of fox. They have the ability to control all things, which includes your miko powers. Even if you had been Midoriko herself you would not have been able to hurt him. The only reason that the Midnight Kitsunes have not taken over is because they don’t like violence, they are very gentle by nature and very reclusive, and he is the first one I have ever seen in person. We are very lucky that he decided to let you go with a warning, if we ever see him again you will apologize, do you understand?!” Songo had had enough of Kagome’s higher then thou attitude, she was going to learn before she got them all killed.
Kagome nodded quickly, she hadn’t realized what she had gotten into, she was so used to having everyone protecting her that she had forgotten that the fights were all a chance of being killed and that eventually, if they were not careful, they might be able to just walk away. She felt like a moron, maybe she should listen to everyone a bit more.
Inuyasha cleared his throat to get their attention. “We are even luckier then you think Songo. Anisuke is traveling with Sesshomaru; he was waiting just inside the forest. If he had wanted to he could have killed all of us when the kitsune had frozen us in place.”
They were all so deep in thought that they didn’t notice one of Naraku’s insects had been hovering over the clearing for their little powwow.
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About halfway to where the others were waiting Anisuke stopped suddenly, causing Sesshomaru to turn back. Anisuke couldn’t believe that he had done that, he actually entertained thoughts of killing that annoying girl. She just made him so angry; she thought that she was so much better then him just because she was a miko. He lost all control, it was both liberating and terrifying at the same time. “Lord Sesshomaru, who were those people?” He was slightly curious who the others were and since the white haired one smelled a bit like Sesshomaru he figured that he probably knew them.
Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed, those idiots hadn’t even introduced themselves before they decided to insult Anisuke. “That was my hanyou half-brother Inuyasha and his little group. The monk is Miroku, he possesses a wind tunnel in his right hand, and it has the power to suck in anything in its path. The other human woman is Songo, she is a demon hunter, and her companion is Kirara. The small kitsune kit is Shippo. And that uncouth wench is Kagome. They hunt the shards of the Shikon no Tama, which the wench uses her minor powers to locate.”
Anisuke’s mind raced the shards? That meant that the jewel had been shattered, who in their right mind would be stupid enough to do that, though it did explain something, why they kept her around with that mouth of hers. “So that was why her necklace glowed, and why I can still see where she is even from here.” He had been rather surprised at first that there was a small ball of light showing through her top, but her mouth took his mind off of it.
Sesshomaru tensed slightly. Anisuke could sense the jewel shards, he would need to keep that little talent a secret, he had seen the way his brother had eyed him. He would not let that half breed near Anisuke, he didn’t deserve a chance.
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Inuyasha led the now quiet group toward the nearest village hoping that they would be able to find a lead about a possible jewel shard. It had been over two weeks since they had found one, and they were all getting impatient. When they arrived at the village the normal staring from the village men started, only this time Kagome was aware of it. She flushed as she realized that Anisuke was telling the truth, to the people of this time she did look like a working woman, to put it nicely. She avoided eye contact with the villagers while the others questioned them about local rumors and recent increases in demon violence. An hour later they had a small lead, but at this point that was really all that they could hope for.
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Kouga stretched as he waited for the others to catch up with him. Lately he had been feeling as if something really big was waiting in the wings. He just couldn’t stay still, what if he missed something because he was stuck at the cave listening as everyone complained about Kagome. At first everyone had liked her but she had been increasingly rude, she thought she was higher then they and it made everyone more then a little uncomfortable including him. When the others caught up he took off again hoping that whatever was going to happen would just happen already, patience was not a virtue in his book.
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Rin was waiting for Anisuke and Lord Sesshomaru to get back; she hoped Lord Sesshomaru got there in time. Anisuke was one of her favorite people; he made her feel smart and useful. Sometimes she felt like she was just getting in the way.
She couldn’t keep herself still and kept pacing from Anuk-sun’s head to his tail. When Anisuke came into view she just couldn’t resist flinging herself into his arms with a squeal. “Anisuke! Anisuke! I was so worried! I thought they were going to hurt you, I’m so glad you’re okay!”
Anisuke chuckled as he picked her up and started rubbing circles on her back. “Shhh, it’s alright little kit, I am perfectly fine. Now why don’t we get the camp set up while Sesshomaru-sama hunts and Jakan gets Anuk-sun settled, alright?” Rin nodded and everyone set about getting ready for the night.
Rin’s mind was focused on how much better her life was with Lord Sesshomaru, Jakan, Anuk-sun, and Anisuke. Jaken was like an older brother, he yelled at her a lot be he always made sure she was alright, and sometimes he would even play with her. Anuk-sun was a very loyal pet that always watched out for her and he was so cute. Sesshomaru was like the father she never had, he protected her and fed her and even though he never said anything, she knew that he cared about her. Anisuke was a mother; he nurtured her, played with her, and taught her anything that she wanted to know and more. The only thing that was missing was for father and mother to get together like parents.
Jaken had never been more pleased. At first he had been wary of the newcomer, after all he knew how dangerous a Midnight kitsune could be, but after he had gotten to know Anisuke different plans started to form. He desperately wanted his Lord to be happy and it looked as if this little fox was what it was going to be.
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Kouga rolled with laughter; oh this was just too good. He had just run into the mutt and heard the story of a lifetime from the wench. She complained about a Midnight kitsune that had thoroughly told her off a week earlier. He had pretended to be sympathetic and understanding while on the inside he was laughing his butt off. He wanted to meet this fox that was for sure. He sent his wolves out to find Sesshomaru’s group, it wouldn’t be hard, that man gave off one hell of a powerful scent that told you to keep away or else. He might be a good guy to know if he ever lightened up a little, which would probably be when hell froze over. Nah, he’d still be a prick then too. Snicker.
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